US3909874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vacuum cleaner with nozzle height adjusting mechanism
Assignee: SINGER ACQUISITION HOLDINGS COMPANY 8 STAMFORD FORUM STAMFORD CT 06904 A DE CORP
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Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract An upright vacuum cleaner having a suction nozzle at the front of the bottom of the chassis is provided with a nozzle height adjustment mechanism for varying the elevation of the rear wheel relative to the chassis to provide at least four nozzle height positions. The rear axle is journaled on the chassis and includes a pair of offset legs on which a respective rear wheel is mounted. An adjustment lever is journaled on the offset leg on one side of the cleaner and extends upwardly through the chassis passing through a slotted locking plate. The lever includes a plurality of teeth spaced along the longitudinal axis of the arm on the forward facing side thereof and a plurality of teeth on the opposite side offset slightly from the first set of teeth. A spring is secured to the lever and to the chassis to bias the lever to lock a selected one of the teeth with the plate. The top of the lever is bent to form a pedal engaged by the foot of an operator. A spring wire rod is secured at one end to the adjustment lever and extends upwardly through an indexed slot within which it is entrapped to indicate the nozzle height position.
Inventors
- 👤 Earl R Clowers
- 👤 Walter G Azelkas
- 👤 Donald W Carnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:52
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47L; A47L5/00; A47L5/12; A47L5/22; A47L5/28; A47L5/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism for a suction cleaner having a chassis including a suction nozzle inlet at the bottom thereof and first and second sets of wheels supporting said chassis for movement on a floor surface, said mechanism comprising: first axle means including a central portion journaled on said chassis and having offset arms formed on opposite ends of said central portion for journaling said first set of wheels, second axle means longitudinally spaced from said first axle for journaling said second set of wheels on said chassis, an adjustment lever having one end mounted on an offset arm of said first axle means and having a manually engageable free end extending through said chassis at a location longitudinally spaced from said central portion, said adjustment lever having a plurality of spaced teeth, a locking plate mounted on the chassis, and spring means biasing said lever in the longitudinal direction toward said central portion on said plate to lock a selected tooth against the plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism for a suction cleaner having a chassis including a suction nozzle inlet at the bottom thereof and first and second sets of wheels supporting said chassis for movement on a floor surface, said mechanism comprising: first axle means including a central portion journaled on said chassis and having offset arms formed on opposite ends of said central portion for journaling said first set of wheels, second axle means longitudinally spaced from said first axle for journaling said second set of wheels on said chassis, an adjustment lever having one end mounted on an offset arm of said first axle means and having a manually engageable free end extending through said chassis at a location longitudinally spaced from said central portion, said adjustment lever having a plurality of spaced teeth, a locking plate mounted on the chassis, and spring means biasing said lever in the longitudinal direction toward said central portion on said plate to lock a selected tooth against the plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism as recited in claim 1 wherein said first axle means comprises an axle rearwardly of said second axle means and extending from side to side of said chassis, said adjustment lever extending through said chassis at a location spaced rearwardly of said central portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism as recited in claim 2 wherein said locking plate comprises a plate including a slot having front and rear edges secured to said chassis, said adjustment lever being narrower than said slot and extending therethrough, said teeth being spaced along the front of said lever to trap under the front edge of the slot.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism as recited in claim 3 including teeth spaced along the rear of said lever for providing a positive stop when the lever is moved rearwardly thereby effecting a step-by-step indexing of the front teeth relative to the locking plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism as recited in claim 4 wherein said locking plate is secured to the underside of said chassis and said slot is in a plane fixed relative to the chassis, said rear teeth are offset relative to said front teeth in a plane parallel to the plane of the slot.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A nozzle height adjusting mechanism as recited in claim 1 including a nozzle height position indicator, said indicator comprising an elongated aperture formed in the chassis, means defining indicia along said aperture, a rod mounted at one end on the adjustment lever, the other end of said rod being entrapped within said aperture and slidable relative thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A nozzle height adjustment mechanism as recited in claim 6 wherein said other end of said rod comprises a substantially Cshape bend, one leg thereof being disposed above the chassis, the other leg being disposed below the chassis, and pointer means formed on said above the chassis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1879710A
Cited
US2063061A
Cited
US2178006A
Cited
US2172911A
Cited
US2776446A
Cited
US3713185A
Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |